Archive for the ‘Abdulrahim Sulaiman’ Category

Knife-carrying Muslim enters New York elementary school, is asked to leave

When confronted, according to a source close to the events, he explained that he was lost and was looking for Fort Dix — the site of an attempted jihad attack in 2008. This report offers scant details, and there are apparently few to be had, but I am sure that Abdulrahim Sulaiman just wanted to help slash open the piñata at the school party, or perhaps help cut the lunchmeat at Fort Dix.

PIERMONT — A Connecticut man found trespassing Wednesday at a South Orangetown elementary school was arrested at a nearby store while carrying a knife, police said.Abdulrahim Sulaiman, 23, of Bridgeport had already entered the main lobby of Tappan Zee Elementary School before 8 a.m. Wednesday, when he was spotted by school officials, police said.

After a call from Principal William Lee, police officers from Piermont and Orangetown arrived and arrested Sulaiman at a nearby convenience store.

Police said Sulaiman was carrying a gravity knife at the time of his arrest. The knife is similar to a switchblade.

In an e-mail to parents, Lee said he had questioned Sulaiman “for a few minutes” before asking him to leave.

No one was injured.

Lee said classes were not canceled, but students and staff were on lockdown while police swept the building.

Sulaiman was charged with third-degree criminal trespass and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both misdemeanors.

He was being held in the Rockland County jail. Bail was set at $5,000 cash. He is due in court Feb. 3….

An update on this story. If you read the comments there, you will see one from a man claiming to be colleague of Abdulrahim Sulaiman, and saying that the incident was a harmless misunderstanding. That may be so, although not all the details of the explanation tally with the charges and the $5,000 bail here; in any case, school officials seem to be taking this incident very seriously indeed, if only as an illustration of what could happen.

PIERMONT — New security measures are being put in place at all South Orangetown schools after a stranger carrying a knife walked into a district elementary school last week.The doors to all schools will now be locked when classes are in session, according to a notice sent from Superintendent of Schools Ken Mitchell to all parents.

In addition , anyone coming to the school will have to present photo identification and additional cameras will be installed.

“While we understand the tightened security and reduced access may be inconvenient, it is essential that we take every reasonable measure to ensure that our buildings are secured for the safety of our students and staff,” Mitchell wrote. […]

The most recent took place Jan. 20, when a 23-year-old Connecticut man entered the main lobby of Tappan Zee Elementary School in Piermont.

The man, Abdulrahim Sulaiman, 23, of Bridgeport, was apparently lost and asking for directions, district spokeswoman B.J. Greco said.

Sulaiman was stopped by school officials and escorted outside. He also asked school officials if he could park his car in the parking lot and take a nap, Greco said.

The man left the school grounds, but after officials called police he was spotted at a nearby convenience store and arrested.

Police said Sulaiman was carrying a knife similar to a switchblade at the time of his arrest.

Sulaiman was charged with third-degree criminal trespass and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both misdemeanors.